Hand brake



Dems, 1938.

w. M. DwYER HAND BRAKE 2 Sheets-Sheet l Film1` March 8, 1957 iw; M.DWYER Dec. 6, 1938.

HAND BRAKE Filed March s, 1937 2 yshees-Shee'c'z Patented Dec. 6, 1938UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HAND BRAKE Delaware Application March 8,1937, Serial No. 129,680

18 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in hand brakes for cars.

One object of the invention is to provide a simple and eiiicient hand`operated brake mechanism forrailway cars wherein the power applied tothe hand operated means oi the brake mechanism is lgreatly multiplied inbeing transmitted to the brakemeans proper of the car to obtainrelatively high braking power for more eiectively controlling themovements of the car.

A further object of the invention is to provide a hand brake mechanismof the handle lever operated type including a chain winding drumactuated by the Vhandle lever, wherein the handle lever is operativelyconnected to the drum by power multiplying means whereby the appliedbraking force exerted through rotation of the drum is materiallyincreased over the force produced by the lever-action of the operatinghandle.

A more specific object ofthe invention is to provide ahandbrakemechanism including a chain `winding drum, a swingable operatinghandle lever, a power multiplying means for transmitting movement fromthe handle lever to the drum comprising an oscillatory member mountedfor swinging movement about the axis of rotation ofthe drum and havingintermittent grip connection with the drum to rotate the latter step bystep, an-d a fulcrum support on which the lever is adapted -to rock, thelever being pivotally connected to the oscillatory member to providerelatively long and short arms extending from the pivot thereof, theshort arm being rockable on said iulcrum and the long arm forming theoperating handle member byv which the lever is manually rocked on itsfulcrum to exert power multiplying lever action on said member to swingthe latter and rotate the drum.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a mechanism of thecharacter described in the preceding paragraph wherein the fulcrum ofthe lever is arranged to travel while ther lever is performing its powermultiplying function to provide maximum eiciency in operation.

Other objects of the invention will more clearly appear from thedescription and claims hereinafter following.

in the drawings forming a part of this specication, Figure 1 is anelevational View of a portion of the end wall of a railway carillustrating my improved hand brake mechanism in connection therewith,the hand brake mechanism being shown .in elevation with the cover plateoi the housing removed. Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view,corresponding substantially to the (Cl. 'i4-506) line 2-2 of Figure l.Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view, corresponding substantially tothe line 3 3 of Figure 2. Figure 4 is a part front elevational View andpart vertical sectional View oi the mechanism shown in Figure 1,illustrating 5 the locking dog in released position, the part sectioncorresponding to the section shown in Figure 3 and the cover plate ofthe housing being shown partly in elevation secured in place on thehousing. Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view, correspondingsubstantially to the line 5-5 of Figure 2. Figure 6 is a View similar toFigure l but showing the parts in different positions.

in said drawings, Ill` indicates the end wall of a railway car on whichmy improved brake mechanism is mounted. The usual brake chain whichleads to the brake mechanism of the car and is operatively connectedthereto is indicated by Il.

My improved hand brake mechanism comprises broadly a chain winding drumA; an oscillatory link or carrier B swingable about the axis of rotationof the drum; iixed rack members C-C; an actuating lever D pivotallysuspended on the link `or vcarrie-r B andv having gear portions E-E intraveling `ulcrum engagement with the rack Y members Cf-C; la ratchetwheelF fixed tothe drumiA; ai gravity inuenced pawl G pivoted on .thecarrier B- and cooperating with the ratchet F; a pivoted/locking dogI-l; ,and an operating han- --dle member -K for actuating the dog. Theoperatingparts kof my improved brake mechanism arepreierably enclosedinea housing which is indicated by M. y Y v The housing M isin the formof a substantially cylindrical, horizontally disposed casing having avertical back wall. l2 .and a vertical front wall I3 in the kform of adetachable cover plate. The wall 121s extended outwardly beyondthecurved youter Walibi the casing to provide Va .pairrcf spacedtopjsecuring ears ide-114' and al depending bottom securingV ear l5. The.casing 'is fixed to the carwall"A IB by securing elements ll5--l-i.extending'through said ears and the wall ID., These securing,elements maybe of any Well-known'forn'iv and as herein shown are rela`Vtively short bolts. As illustrated mostclearly in Figures i, 3, 4, 5j,and d, at the top of the casing the curved outside Wallis provided withan upwardly offset portion or bulge Il to accommodate certain portionsof the locking ldog and actuatl v ing mechanism therefor., 'Between theback and front walls IZ and I 3 the casing is provided with K a web AISvprojecting inwardly` from'the Vcurved wallroi the casing.A `r T.d'heweb Yor iiange I8 is ver- 55 tically disposed and is provided with arelatively large opening I9 of the general outline clearly indicated inFigure 5. The web I8 forms, in effect, a vertical partition walldividing the casing into front and rear chambers 29 and 2| as clearlyshown in Figure 2. The chamber 2I accommodates the chain winding drum Aand is open at the bottom, as indicated at 22, to accommodate the brakechain I I for in and out movement. At the forward end of the casing, thecurved wall thereof is provided with a continuous, inwardly projectingweb 23 having an opening 24 of the outline most clearly shown in Figures1 and 6. The web 23 is parallel to the web I8 and these two webs form,in effect, inwardly extending flange portions on the curved outer wallof the housing M. At the top of the housing M the web 23 is providedwith an outwardly offset section 25 for a purpose hereinafter pointedout. The cover plate I3 abuts the web 23 and is secured thereto by bolts26-26 or similar fastening devices. The upper portion of the cover plateis properly recessed to accommodate the offset portion 25 of the web 23and the outer surface of said cover plate is iiush with the outer faceof the offset 25. The central portion of the cover plate is offsetinwardly or dished, as indicated at 21. The securing bolts 28-26 extendthrough suitable openings in the cover plate I3 and web 23. The openingsin the web 23 for the top set of bolts 23-26 are in the form of openended, upwardly extending slots and are indicated by 28-28. Theseslotted openings permit placing of the upper bolts 26-26 in position insaid openings by entering the shanks of the bolts sidewise through theopen ends of the slots. The openings in the web 23 for the bottom set ofbolts 2li-26 are of the usual circular form. Inwardly extending lugs29-29 and 29-29. are preferably provided on the circular or curved wallof the housing M to serve as abutments for the side faces of the headsof the bolts 26-26 and 26-26 to hold said bolts against turning duringapplication of the usual securing nuts.

The bottom of the outer chamber 20 is also open at the bottom, asindicated at 30, said opening being in the form of a relatively wideslot in the curved wall of the housing, extending upwardly some distanceat the right hand side of the housing as viewed in Figures 1, 3, 5, and6.

At the lower portion of the housing M, spaced inwardly and upwardly fromthe opening 30, the webs I8 and 23 are provided with thickenedtransversely aligned arc-shaped portions or flanges which projectlaterally toward each other and form the xed rack members C--C of myimproved mechanism. The rack members C-C are provided with sets of teeth3I-3I concentric with the axis of rotation of the drum A.

The chain winding drum is of the outline shown in Figure 5 and presentsan eccentric winding surface portion 32 provided with an annular groove33 adapted to accommodate the side portions of alternate links of thechain II. The chain II is suitably attached to the drum A by means of asecuring element or bolt 34 extending through the end link of the chainII and aligned openings in projecting ears 35-35 on the drum.

The drum is freely rotatably supported on a horizontal shaft 36 havingits opposite ends supported in seats provided by inwardly extendingaligned hollow open bosses 3'I-31 on the rear and front walls I2 and I3of the housing M. The outer end of the drum A projects into the chamber20 and said projecting portion has the ratchet wheel F formed integraltherewith.

The carrier or oscillatory link B is suspended from the shaft 36 betweenthe outer end of the drum A and the boss 31 on the wall or cover plateI3 and is journaled on said shaft for swinging movement. This linkextends below the racks C-C and has a pivot opening extendingtransversely through the lower end thereof, said opening being adaptedto loosely receive a pivot pin 38.

The operating hand lever D is in the form of a bar having a hand gripportion at the outer end and a forked head 39 at the inner end. Theforked head 39 has laterally spaced jaw members 40--40 which aresuitably thickened to strengthen the same, as clearly shown in Figure 2.At the left hand side of the head 39, as viewed in Figure 1, the jawmembers 40-40 are connected by a web or upstanding wall portion 4I whichserves as a stop to limit relative swinging movement in one direction ofthe lever D and the link B. At the opposite side of the head 39 thespace between the jaws is left open to provide clearance for the link Bduring swinging movement of the handle lever D to the left with repectto the link, as viewed in Figure 1. Between the jaws 49-40 the head 39is provided with an upstanding web 42 parallel to said jaws. 'Ihe web 42extends outwardly beyond the jaws 40-40, as clearly shown in Figures 1and 3 at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the handle lever D andforms a projecting finger 43 for a purpose hereinafter pointed out. web42 are provided with transversely aligned pivot pin-receiving openingsadapted to accommodate the pivot pin 38. The lower end of the link B isaccommodated in the space between the web 42 and the left hand jaw 49 ofthe head 39, as shown in Figure 2, and the pin 38 which extends throughthe lower end of said link and the head 39 serves to pivotally connectthe handle lever D to said link for relative swinging movement. The jawmembers 40-40 of the head 39 of the lever D are provided with sets ofteeth concentric with the axis of the pivot pin .38, thereby forming thegear portions E-E which are arranged to mesh with the i'lxed racks C-C.The rack and gear sections C-C and E-E thus provide a traveling fulcrummeans for the lever D which has a long and short arm extending inopposite directions from the pivotal connection of the lever with thelink B, the short arm carrying the gear portions E-E and the long armforming the operating hand grip member.

The pawl G is pivoted for rocking movement at a point between its endson the pin 38, as clearly shown in Figure 3, said pawl being providedwith an offset or projecting luglike eye portion 44 through which thepivot pin 38 extends,

the eye portion being accommodated in the pocket formed between the web42 and the right hand jaw 40 of the head 39 of the handle lever D, asviewed in Figure 2. As will be evident, the pawl is thus movable inunison with the link B. Upon reference to Figure 2, it will be seen thatthe pawl G is in vertical alignment with the ratchet wheel F. The pawl Ghas a tooth 45 at Vone end thereof adapted to engage with the teeth4gravity..'Il'le .pawl G thus has, in effect, two

arms extending in opposite directions from the..

The jaws 40-40 and the pivot thereof, one of which arms forms a weightedtail member and the other of which has intermittent gripping engagementwith the ratchet wheel F when the link B is reverselyoscillated. Betweenthe pivot of the pawl G and the tooth 45, the pawl is provided with alaterally projecting lug 41 adapted to be'engaged by the linger 43 ofthe lever D to trip the pawl to positively disengage the same from theratchet wheel F when the, lever moves to the pendant position shown inFigures 1, 2, 3, 4, and and hold the pawl disengaged as long as thelever remains in said pendant position. As shown in Figure 3, the nger43 preferably is notched at the outer end portion thereof, as indicatedat 48, to flt over the top and inner side of the lug 41.

The locking dog H is mounted above the ratchet wheel F in verticalalignment therewith and is controlled by the operating handle member Kto which it is connected. The handle member K is in the form of a crankand has a horizontally disposed, shaftlike portion 49 journaled in abearing seat 58 in the form of a boss on the web I8 and a second seat 5Iformed partly on the cover plate I3 and partly on the offset portion 25of the web 23 of the housing M. At the outer end, the shaft 49 isprovided with a right angular arm 52 exterior to the housing M. The arm52 is preferably weighted at its outer end, as 'indicated at 53. Toprevent endwise displacement of the shaft 49 when the parts areassembled, the shaft is formed with an annular flange 54 which bears onthe inner side of the bearing seat 5l. The shaft 49 serves to pivotallysupport the dog H, the latter being journaled on said shaft adjacent thebearing boss 50, as clearly shown in Figure 2. The dog H is providedwith a tooth 55 at one end adapted to engage with the teeth of theratchet wheel F and a short finger 56 at the other end having alaterally projecting lug 51 thereon. At the toothed end of the dog, asecond lug 58 is provided thereon, projecting from the same side of thedog as the lug 51. Adjacent the dog H, the shaft 49 is provided with aradially projecting short arm 59 adapted to engage the lug 51 when theweighted arm 52 is thrown to the extreme right, as shown in Figure 4, torock the dog and disengage the same from the ratchet wheel F, and toengage the lug 58 when the arm 52 is thrown to the left, as shown inFigures 1 and 3, to throw the dog into operative ratcheting positionwith respect to the ratchet wheel I3. Due to the handle lever mem-ber Kbeing weighted, the dog H will be maintained either in the disengagedposition mentioned or when in engagement with the ratchet wheel F willbe heldin ratcheting relation therewith by the action of gravity on thelever member K. It is further pointed out that when the lever member Kis moved to disengage the arm 59 thereof from the lug 51, the dog H byits own weight, will be urged into engagement with the ratchet wheel Fthrough the action of gravity by overbalancing `action of the toothedend thereof.

In assembling the parts of my improved hand brake, the drum A with thechain II attached thereto is first placed within the housing by enteringthe drum through the open front end of said housing and passing the samethrough the opening I9 of the web I8 into the chamber 2|, vthe chain I Ibeing passed through the opening I Il with the drum and threaded throughthe bottom opening 22 of the chamber 2l. After the drum A has beenplaced in position in the Ychamber 2l, the lever D with the link B andthe pawl Gattached thereto by means ofthe pivot 38 are placed inposition by entering the link B, the pawl G, and the head 39 of thelever through the opening 3|] into the chamber 20 and bringing theopening at the upper end of the link B into axial alignment with theopening of the drum A. The drum shaft 36 is then engaged through theopenings off the link B and the drum A and its inner end seated in thepocket of the boss 31 on the rear wall I2 of the housing M. Theoperating handle lever member K with the dog H mounted on the shaftportion 49 of said member are then placed in position within the chamber2U, the inner end of the shaft 49 being seated in the pocket of thebearing boss 5l) on the web I8 of the housing and the outer endportionof said shaft being seated in the part 4bearing seat 5I of the offsetportion 25 of they web- 23 of the housing M. After thel parts have beenthus assembled, the cover plate I3 is applied and secured in position bythe bolts 2li-26, the outer end of the shaft 35 being seated in the boss31 of the cover plate I3, and the part bearing 5I of the cover plateengaged with the underneath side of the shaft 49 of the operating handlemember K. When the parts have been thus completely assembled, the gearportions E--E of the lever D are held in mesh with the racks C-C andthey pivot pin 38 which connects the handle D to the link B and the pawlG is held against endwse removal by the overhanging Walls formed by thebottom sections of the webs I8 and 23 of the housing M.

The operation of my improved hand brake mechanism, in applying thebrakes, assuming the parts are in the position shown in Figure 1, is asfollows: The operator swings the handle lever D in a contraclockwi'sedirection, therebyeffecting fulcruming movement of the gear portions E-Eof the head 39 on the racks C-C, thereby effecting swinging movement ofthe pivotally conf nected link B about the axis` of the drum shaft 35 ina contraclockwise direction. At'the same time the handle lever D turnsVon its pivotal connection with the link B, swinging the finger 43' onthe head of the lever upwardly in a direction away from the lug 41 ofthe pawl G, thus freeing the pawl to swing into operative engagementwith the teeth of the ratchet wheel F. Inasmuch as the pawl G, which isurged into engagement with the ratchet wheel F by the action of gravity,is

forced to travel with the link B and the head 39 of the lever D, theratchet wheel is rotated and in turn effects rotation of the drum A towind the chain Il thereon. The-parts may thus be operated until theyreach approximately the position illustrated in Figure 6. As illustratedin Figure 6, the ratchet wheel F has been advanced approximately thedistance of two teeth from the position shown in Figure 1 and therebyeffected rotation of the drum A to a similar extent. After the partshave reached the position shown in Figure 6, the handle lever D is swungback to the position shown in Figure 1. During this returning movementofthe lever D, the pawl G idles over the teeth of the ratchet wheel Fwhich is held against backward rotation by the locking dog H. Theforward and backward movements of the lever D are repeated until thebrakes are fully applied. As will thus be evident, the tighteningoperation of the brakes is effected by simply oscillating the handlelever D.

When the brakes have been fully applied and the operator releases hishold from the lever D,

to the pendant position shown in Figure 1. As

the lever drops to this position, the pawl G is automatically disengagedfrom the ratchet wheel F by the finger 43 on the head of the lever D andheld clear of the teeth of the ratchet wheel F while the lever D remainsin the pendant position shown in Figure 1. The parts will thus alwaysassume the position shown in Figure 1 after the brakes have beenoperated regardless of the extent to which the brake tighteningoperation is progressed.

In order to release the brakes, the locking dog H is disengaged from theratchet wheel F by swinging the operating lever member K to the rightfrom the position shownin Figure 1 to that shown in Figure 4, the arm 59on the shaft of the member K engaging the lug 5l on the dog to rock thedog on its pivot and trip the same. The instant the dog is disengagedfrom the ratchet wheel F, the latter and the drum A are free to rotate,thereby permitting unwinding of the chain Il and quick release of thebrakes. After the brakes have been released, the dog I-I is againbrought into engagement with the ratchet wheel F by swinging theoperating lever member K in a reverse direction, from the position shownin Figure 4 to that shown in Figure 1, the arm 59 engaging the lug 58 ofthe dog to positively force the dog into engagement with the teeth ofthe ratchet wheel F. Thel dog H will drop back to ratcheting positionthrough the action of gravity when it is freed by the arm 59 being movedout of engagement with the lug 51, but in the event that the dog H doesnot drop freely into ratcheting position, the weight of the lever memberK when swung to the position shown in Figure 1 will forcibly move thesame to the ratchet engaging position and byits weight being added tothe weight of the dog assure proper ratcheting action.

I have herein shown and described what I now consider the preferredmanner of carrying out my invention, but the same is merely illustrativeand I contemplate all changes and modiiications that come within thescope of the claims appended hereto.

I claim:

1. In a hand brake mechanism, the combination with a rotary chainwinding element; of an actuating lever having a long arm and a shortarm, said short arm being fulcrumed for rocking movement about its outerend, said fulcrum being eccentric to the axis of rotation of the Windingelement; and means pivotally mounted on the other end of said short arm,operatively connecting said last named end of said short arm to the drumfor rotating the latter, said means being bodily movable with the axisof pivotal connection thereof with said arm.

2. In a hand brake mechanism, the combina'- tion with a rotary chainwinding element; of a xed support; an actuating lever having arelatively short power multiplying arm, and a long arm by which the sameis actuated, said short arm at one end having traveling fulcrumingengagement on said support; and means for operatively connecting theother end of said short arm to said element to transmit motion to thelatter.

3. In a hand brake mechanism, the combination with a rotary chainwinding element; of a xed support; an actuating lever fulcrumed to rockon its inner end on said support; and means operatively connecting saidlever to said element and actuated by said rocking movement of saidlever to rotate said element, said means being connected to the leverbetween the ends thereof at a point a shorter distance from the innerthan from the outer end` of saidlever.

4.V In a -hand brake mechanism, the combination fwith a rotary chainwinding element; of a carrier swingable on the axis of rotation of saidelement;` an actuating lever pivotally connected to said carriereccentricV to the axis of swinging movement of the latter, said leverhaving long and short arms extending from said pivotal connection; asupport on which the outer end of said short armfis fulcrumed to effectswinging movement of said carrier when the lever is actuated; and meansoperatively connecting said carrier and element for transmittingmovement from the carrier to said element.

5. In a hand brake mechanism, the combination with a rotary chainwinding element; of a link pivotally supported at its inner end formovement; an intermittent driving connection between the link and thewinding element;- and means for swinging said link on its axiscomprising an operating lever pivotally connected to the outer end ofsaid link for swinging movement with respect to said link and havinglong and short arms extending from said connection, said short arm beingfulcrumed to swing on its outer end and rock the same on the pivotalconnection with said link.

6. In a hand brake mechanism, the combination with a rotary chainwinding element; of an operating lever having a short and a long arm;supporting means on which the outer end of said short arm is fulcrumedfor rocking movement; intermittent grip means operatively connecting theinner end of said short arm to said winding element for rotating thelatter; and guide means for maintaining said short arm in operativeengagement with said supporting means.

7. In a hand brake mechanism, the combination with a rotary chainwinding element; of a link supported at its inner end for rotation aboutthe axis of. rotary movement of said element; an operating leverpivotally connected to the outer end of said link for swinging movementwith respect to said link; an intermittent drive connection between saidlink and winding element; and fulcrum supporting means engaged by saidlever and on which said lever fulcrums for rocking the same with respectto said link on its pivotal connection with the latter, to swing saidlink on its axis of rotation..

8. In a hand brake mechanism, the combination with a rotary chainwinding drum; of a ratchet wheel xed to said drum and rotatabletherewith; a link supported at its inner end for swinging movement aboutthe axis of rotation of said ratchet wheel; a lever pivoted to the outerend of said link; fulcrum means offset with respect to the pivotalconnection of the lever with said link, on which said lever is supportedfor rocking movement; and a pawl operatively connected to the outer endof said link and engageable with said ratchet Wheel for actuating thelatter to rotate the drum.

9. In a hand brake mechanism, the combination with a rotary chainwinding drum; of a ratchet wheel fixed to said drum; a link supported atits inner end for swinging movement about the axis of rotation of saidratchet wheel; an operating lever pivoted to the outer end of said linkand having long and short arms extending from said pivotal connectionwith said link; a fulcrum support for the outer end of said short armwith which the latter has rocking engagement; a pawl operativelyconnecting said link and ratchet wheel, said.' pawl being pivotallyconnected to the outer end of said link; and means for locking saidratchet wheel against retrograde movement.

10. In a hand brake mechanism, the combination with a rotary chainwinding drum; of a link mounted for swinging movement about the axis ofrotation of said drum; a fixed rack concentric with said drum; a leverhaving its inner end pivotally connected to the outer end of said link,said pivoted end of the lever having gear teeth thereon meshing with thefixed rack; and intermittent grip means operatively connecting said linkand lever to the drum to actuate the latter.

11. In a hand brake mechanism, the combination with a rotary chainwinding drum; of a iixed rack concentric with said drum; a link havingits inner end pivotally supported for swinging movement about the axisof rotation of said drum; an actuating lever having a head at its innerend pivotally connected to the outer end of said link, said head havinga set of gear teeth thereon meshing with said rack, said set of teethbeing concentric with the pivotal connection of said head with the link;and an intermittent grip connection between said link and drum fortransmitting movement to said drum when said lever is actuated.

12. In a hand brake mechanism, the combination with a rotary chainWinding drum; of an actuating lever provided with a head at its innerend having gear teeth; a fixed rack with which said gear teeth mesh;means for guiding the movement of the head of said lever in a path tomaintain the gear teeth thereof in engagement with said rack; andintermittent grip means operatively connecting said lever head with saiddrum to transmit motion from the lever to said drum.

13. In a hand brake mechanism, the combination with a rotary chainwinding drum; of a shaft on which said drum is rotatably supported; alink having its inner end journaled on said shaft; a ratchet wheel xedto the drum; a xed rack concentric with the drum; an actuating leverhaving a series of gear teeth at the inner end* meshing with said rack;a pawl cooperating with said ratchet wheel; and a pivot memberoperatively connecting said pawl and head of the lever with the outerend of said link, said pivot member being concentric with the series ofgear teeth of the head.

14. In a hand brake mechanism, the combination with a rotary chainwinding drum; of a fixed curved rack concentric with the axis ofrotation of the drum; a lever having a set of gear teeth at the innerend thereof engaged with said rack; a link pivotally connected to saidlever concentric with the set of teeth of the latter; means forsupporting said link for swinging movement about the axis of rotation ofthe drum; and means for transmitting movement from said link to saiddrum.

15. In a hand brake mechanism, the combination with a rotary chainwinding drum; of a lever having a traveling fulcrum comprising a fixedrack and rotary gear member fixed to said lever and in mesh with saidrack; and a motion transmitting element connected to said lever andhaving intermittent gripping engagement with the drum to rotate thelatter.

16. In a hand brake mechanism, the combination With a rotary chainWinding drum; of a ratchet element xed to said drum; a pawl engageablewith said ratchet element; a lever to which said pawl is pivotallyconnected, said lever having a fixed gear member thereon concentric withthe pivotal connection thereof with said pawl; a fixed rack on whichsaid gear member has traveling movement; and a link to which said leveris pivotally connected, said link being supported for swinging movementabout the axis of rotation of said drum.

17. In a hand brake mechanism, the combination with a rotary chainwinding drum; of a ratchet wheel xed to said drum; an operating leverhaving an actuating pawl pivotally connected thereto and engageable withsaid ratchet wheel; means supported for swinging movement with respectto said drum for supporting said lever, said lever being pivotallyconnected to said last named; means; and means on said lever havingshouldered engagement with said pawl for disengaging the latter fromsaid ratchet wheel, when said lever is moved in one direction.

18. In a hand brake mechanism, the .combinationl with a rotary chainwinding drum; of a 'ratchet wheel iixed to said drum; a link supportedat its inner end for swinging movement about the axis of rotation ofsaid drum; a lever having its inner end pivoted to the outer end of saidlink; a weighted pawl pivotally connected to the outer end of said linkand urged into engagement with said ratchet wheel by the action ofgravity; a fixed finger on said lever engageable with said paWl fortripping the latter to disengage the same; a fulcrum support for saidlever; and means on said lever offset with respect to the pivotalconnection thereof with said link having traveling rocking engagementwith said fulcrum support.

WILLIAM M. DWYER.

